Eradication of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Puerto Rico.

The ongoing cooperative effort between the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture to eradicate the southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini), is reviewed. Epidemiological and biological aspects of the tick that influence efficient control and/or eradication in Puerto Rico are discussed. The differences between the current eradication methodology and that initially utilized by the program are emphasized. The status and possible future adaptations of the program, as well as its applicability to other areas in the Caribbean, are also addressed.